Darrell Weiland: Darrell was first introduced to hot air ballooning
in 1965 when Don Piccard was instructing Don Kirsten to fly. Darrell was crew
and learned the technique of the "flapper". The flapper was the human equivalent
to the fan now used to cold inflate the balloon. After a ten minute ride Darrell
was hooked on ballooning. In 1970 Darrell met Tom Davies and soloed his "iron
bucket" Raven. Along the way he was busy logging over 21,000 hours and acquiring
ratings as single-engine land, multi-engine land, instrument, ground instructor,
flight instructor, instrument instructor, commercial helicopter, helicopter
instructor, ATP multi-engine and type ratings in Citation, Lear Jets and Global Express. Then
in 1995 he purchased an Aerostar balloon he named "Neat Yankee Lady" (since replaced with a new Aerostar Ballooon - "Sunburst Twist"). Since
then Darrell has logged more than 200 hours flying his balloon in events in
Albuquerque, the Nationals in Rantoul and scenic flights in his hometown of
Bentonville.
E-mail jdweiland@centurytel.net
